4Real Forums: I'm Not Ready!

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Nurturing the Years of Wonder
4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder

Topic: I'm Not Ready!

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JennGM
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Posted: Oct 23 2006 at 4:09pm \| IP Logged

I wasn't sure if I should post this here or Language Arts, so bear with me.

My son just recently turned 3. Now I just want to say up front, I don't consider him a genius, nor do I work with him a lot. I really like CM's approach to not do formal schooling until he's older.

But he's recently started sounding out letters, making and spelling words. He knows his letters and sounds down pat. Some he has seen before, others he's sounding out and spelling for himself. My mother was with him today and was astounded as he was putting words together.

I've been trying to plan some activities to do with him from "Montessori Read and Write" and some other Montessori approaches, but the beginning activities he seems far beyond. What would you do? Go back and start from the beginning or jump in at where he is? Just let him go on as he's doing and not push it?

And writing first then reading isn't the way it's happening here.

And at what point is he in the learning? I haven't any experience in teaching a child to read. He's really working phonetically at making words. I think a moveable alphabet would do well for him, as he's taking his magnetic letters and forming words, but he's scrambling to find the letters and it would be nice to have them organized.

Do you work any phonics programs into a Montessori approach? Are there good ones for this age?

I was going to make some sandpaper letters, and we've been writing in the sand tray so we can work on writing area. I'd also like to get the insets so he can practice.

I don't want to be a pushy mom, but he's just looking for more ways to make words. Those silent words on a page are speaking to him, and making sounds and everything is exploding with excitement. It's really quite wonderful to watch his joy.

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Jennifer G. Miller
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'07
Family in Feast and Feria

mom2mpr
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Posted: Oct 23 2006 at 7:53pm \| IP Logged

Yes, you are ready!!! Fun, fun, fun....really!
I already wrote this out once--some computer alien got it. This time I am just going to list a few things we did that were a lot of fun--that I remember. My ds was pretty much on the same "schedule" and was reading pretty well by 4. I didn't force him or even teach him how to read, he did it all by himself, I just read to him-a lot.
We used Bob's books, a really fun book with the title, something like,"You Read to Me, I'll Read to You", and lots and lots of easy readers from the library. If I think of any other things we used I'll come back later...enjoy him, it is a lot of fun.
I tried not to worry to much about handwriting because he wasn't into it and everyone told me to relax he was a boy and would take awhile. It did, and finally he is doing better using Handwriting Without Tears.
He is almost 9--still reading well and A LOT!!
Anne
PS-Explode the Code for awhile but he seemed to know most of it and hated workbooks.

Betsy
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Posted: Oct 23 2006 at 9:00pm \| IP Logged

For reading we are using is Reading Reflex .

IMO, this is a great book for teaching reading. I think you could adapt it well to your situation...It is very gentle and easy to adapt to short lessons as well as having a lot of manipulative.

I hope that helps,
Betsy

Christine
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Posted: Oct 23 2006 at 11:46pm \| IP Logged

I have used the Primary Phonics books with my early and normal readers. My children preferred them to Bob books. The Primary Phonics books are used in some Montessori schools. I believe that they are still available from Our Father's House.

Sandpaper letters have appealed to some of my children.

I highly recommend Teaching Montessori in the Home, by Elizabeth Hainstock. I was doing the activities in this book with my first when she surprised me (at the age of 3) by sounding out the word "police" (polis) on a rug. After hearing her do so, I invested in the first two levels of the Primary Phonics books (20 books total) and the rest is history. Today, she is an avid and very good reader.

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Christine
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Marybeth
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Posted: Oct 24 2006 at 6:17am \| IP Logged

Jenn,

I say go for it! He is interested and engaged so he will let you know when it is too much. We all know you would never push him...keep going...he sounds very motivated. I remember ds really enjoying books on tape at this age and really exploring our art cabinet.

I am not at all surprised how bright he is...if he is anything like his Mom and aunts...watch out world..he here comes!!!

Mb

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Marybeth (Mb)
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